Starting a business in Northern Ireland
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Northern Ireland Statutory Rule
2005
Northern Ireland
Work at Height Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
21 compliance obligations, 2 practical guides · 5 journeys
Penalty landscape
15 of 21 obligations carry up to 2 years imprisonment. 6 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Employer 16
- Any Person 4
- Self-Employed Person 1
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Mentioned in related content
2 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Employers also bound by 694 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The Income Tax (Pay As You Earn) Regulations 2003 2003 236 duties
- Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 1998 120 duties
- TULRCA 1992 1992 72 duties
- Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (current NI employment law) 1996 52 duties
- Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 2003 50 duties
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Self-Employed People also bound by 82 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- General Dental Services Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 1993 12 duties
- The National Health Service (General Dental Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2010 2010 7 duties
- The General Chiropractic Council (Indemnity Arrangements) Rules Order of Council 2015 2015 5 duties
- Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1993 1993 5 duties
- The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992 1992 4 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Schedules
REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING PLACES OF WORK AND MEANS OF ACCESS OR EGRESS AT HEIGHT
- Ensure work at height platforms and access points are safe and stable Employer
REQUIREMENTS FOR COLLECTIVE SAFEGUARDS FOR ARRESTING FALLS
2 years imprisonment- Ensure safety and training when using collective fall arrest equipment Employer
REQUIREMENTS FOR LADDERS
2 years imprisonment- Follow strict safety requirements when using ladders Employer
REQUIREMENTS FOR WORK IN DOCKS
2 years imprisonment- Install secure guardrails at dangerous edges in dock areas Employer
REQUIREMENTS FOR GUARD-RAILS, TOE-BOARDS, BARRIERS AND SIMILAR COLLECTIVE MEANS OF PROTECTION
2 years imprisonment- Ensure guard-rails and barriers meet safety and height standards Any Person
A safeguard shall be used only if –
- Only use safeguards after risk assessment and training Any Person
REQUIREMENTS FOR PERSONAL FALL PROTECTION SYSTEMS
2 years imprisonment- Ensuring safety of personal fall protection systems Any Person
Every employer shall ensure that a ladder is used for...
- Only use ladders when risk assessment shows low risk and short duration or site constraints Employer
Browse 39 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
PREMISES AND ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE TERRITORIAL SEA
PARTICULARS TO BE INCLUDED IN A REPORT OF INSPECTION
Interpretation
Offshore installations
Wells
Pipelines
Mines
Other activities
Any reference in this Schedule to means of protection is...
Means of protection shall – (a) be of sufficient dimensions,...
In relation to work at height involved in construction work...
Any structure or part of a structure which supports means...
(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), there shall not be a...
REQUIREMENTS FOR WORKING PLATFORMS
Any reference in this Schedule to a safeguard is to...
A safeguard shall be suitable and of sufficient strength to...
A safeguard shall – (a) in the case of a...
Suitable and sufficient steps shall be taken to ensure, so...
Suitable and sufficient steps shall be taken to prevent any...
Every ladder shall be used in such a way that...
Any surface upon which a ladder rests shall be stable,...
A ladder shall be so positioned as to ensure its...
A suspended ladder shall be attached in a secure manner...
A portable ladder shall be prevented from slipping during use...
A ladder used for access shall be long enough to...
No interlocking or extension ladder shall be used unless its...
A mobile ladder shall be prevented from moving before it...
Where a ladder or run of ladders rises a vertical...
The name and address of the person for whom the...
The location of the work equipment inspected.
A description of the work equipment inspected.
The date and time of the inspection.
Details of any matter identified that could give rise to...
Details of any action taken as a result of any...
Details of any further action considered necessary.
The name and position of the person making the report....
REVOCATIONS
In relation to work at height where people are engaged...
In this Schedule— “dock gate” means any lock gate or...
Organisation and planning
2 years imprisonment- Properly plan and supervise all work at height Employer
Competence
- Ensure only competent staff work at height Employer
Avoidance of risks from work at height
- Avoid or safely manage work at height Employer
Selection of work equipment for work at height
2 years imprisonment- Select appropriate equipment for work at height Employer
Dock Operations
- Comply with safety requirements for dock operations at height Employer
Requirements for particular work equipment
2 years imprisonment- Ensure work at height equipment meets specific safety standards Employer
Fragile surfaces
2 years imprisonment- Prevent falls through or near fragile surfaces Employer
Falling objects
2 years imprisonment- Prevent injuries from falling objects and secure stored materials Employer
Danger areas
2 years imprisonment- Secure and mark danger areas where people or objects could fall Employer
Inspection of work equipment
2 years imprisonment- Inspect work at height equipment and maintain safety records Employer
Inspection of places of work at height
2 years imprisonment- Check fall protection and surfaces before working at height Employer
Special provision in relation to caving and climbing
2 years imprisonment- Maintain equivalent safety levels for caving or climbing instruction Self-Employed Person
Duties of persons at work
2 years imprisonment- Use height safety equipment correctly and report any dangers Any Person
Browse 17 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
Additional requirements for scaffolding
Additional requirements for scaffolding
Stability of supporting structure
Stability of working platforms
Safety on working platforms
Loading
sch. 6 para. 1
sch. 6 para. 2
sch. 6 para. 3
Citation and commencement
Interpretation
Application
Exemption by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland
Exemption by the Secretary of State for Defence
Amendment of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999
Repeal of section 25 of the Factories Act (Northern Ireland) 1965
Revocations
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland
Promotes and enforces health and safety at work standards in Northern Ireland. NI equivalent of HSE with similar enforcement powers under local …
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Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.